United Nations should intervene in Rohingya issue: Mahmood Madani

Prateek Goyal

Friday, 15 September 2017

It is a very sad thing we heard about the atrocities on Rohingyas. It is just not done, the way they are being killed. But I don’t think moving out of Myanmar will go in their favour. They should stay there and United Nations should intervene to support them and stop attacks on them

In an exclusive interview, Maulana Mahmood Madani, General Secretary, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, spoke to Prateek Goyal on the sidelines of the Pune Dialogue on National Security (PDNS) at YASHADA. Madani expressed his views on the mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar after atrocities meted out on them by Myanmar Army.

What do you think about the mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar?
It is a very sad thing we heard about the atrocities on Rohingyas. It is just not done, the way they are being killed. But I don’t think moving out of Myanmar will go in their favour. They should stay there and United Nations should intervene to support them and stop attacks on them.

According to media reports, Rohingya women have been gang-raped, children were burnt alive and men were beheaded. Do you still think staying in Myanmar will sort their problems?
International intervention is immediately required to save them. I can understand their situation but moving to another country will not stop their ordeal. But yes, a collective decision should be taken at international level to stop these atrocities against them.

Why Muslim nations are not coming upfront to rescue them?
No, it is not like that. Bangladesh has come forward to help them and has opened its border for them. But the nations, which are situated at a farther distance cannot come here and take them away. Nations such as Indonesia and Malaysia have also come forward and are giving shelter to Rohingya refugees. Gradually, other countries will join them, but its sad that despite large-scale atrocities against them, very few nations have come forward.

What role should India play in sorting out this current crisis?
India has also sent aid for Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh. But India should play a bigger role in providing help to them and should intervene to sort out this issue.

Do you think that India should open its borders for Rohingya Muslims?
I cannot suggest that but definitely, India should not remain a silent spectator and should try to initiate diplomatic dialogue with the Myanmar government.

Do you think that because of the threat of Islamic terrorism, countries are not giving shelter to Rohingya Muslims despite they being butchered in Myanmar?
I don’t think that this is the exact reason why nations are not coming forward to take them as refugees. But yes, this can be one of the reasons. Every country has its own problems and they don’t want to deal with a new problem, which is why they keep themselves at a distance.

Does giving shelter to Rohingyas threaten India’s national security?
As I told before that every nation has its own problems and nobody wants to burden oneself with other issues. I cannot say whether giving refugee status to Rohingyas is a threat to the national security of our country. But yes, it is time India should take an active role in sorting out this crisis.